The decision was taken following a meeting of the AIBA's Executive Committee and the suspension prohibits the participation of all SANABO boxers, coaches and officials in future AIBA and Confederation competitions.

The immediate suspension rules South African boxers out of the upcoming AIBA World Championships, which is due to take placd in Astana, Kazakhstan in October.

The root causes of the suspension stem from AIBA's assertion that the SANABO elections in December last year, which saw Andile Mofu elected as President, were unduly influenced by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and that some members of SANABO were prohibited from taking part in the election process.

AIBA also alleged that there were no independent observers at the elections and that Million Nonina, a professional boxing coach was present at the election meeting, which is prohibited under AIBA rules.

As a result, the AIBA informed SANABO in April of this year that it did not recognise its new leadership structure and called for fresh elections.

In a letter sent to SANABO informing them of its latest decision, AIBA executive director Ho Kim said that the suspension would start with immediate effect and accused SANABO of failing to provide the requested documents regarding the organisation's statutes and constitution.

SASCOC's chief executive officer Tubby Reddy refutes claims by AIBA that his organisation interfered in SANABO elections



























"For the avoidance of doubt, no officials, boxers or coaches shall be entitled to participate in any AIBA-confederation competition at any level," wrote Kim.

"SANABO was called upon to organise new elections to take place no later than August 10.

"SANABO was also requested to send to AIBA a copy of the current version of the SANABO statutes-constitution so that our legal department may review and approve the contents.

"However, SANABO has failed to provide the requested documentation and organise these new elections."

SASCOC's chief executive Tubby Reddy, whose colleague Mubarak Mohamed is accused of influencing the elections by AIBA, said: "We have provided the necessary documentation to AIBA and are awaiting comment and the way forward from them."

SANABO's suspension comes a month after AIBA banned the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) after it blocked World Series of Boxing (WSB) fighters from competing at national events.
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